Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 9, 1958 J, w. JACOBS 2,850,884 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 1 FiledAug. 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

W. flea/M41151 HIS ATTORNEY Jamu WJaws p 9, 1958 J. w. JAcoBs- 2,850,884

' REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1955 z Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

By Jam W/Jawlw K. V? W HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent REFRIGERATIN GAPPARATUS James W. Jacobs, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General MotorsCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationAugust 9, 1955, Serial No. 527,217

Claims. (Cl. 62258) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatusand more particularly to apparatus for cooling water.

It is an object of this invention to provide a small compact watercooler which may be manufactured at a low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a water cooler having aminimum number of parts. More particularly, it is an object of thisinvention to provide a refrigerating system for use in a' water coolerin which the refrigerant condenser, the evaporator, and the waterchilling passages are all formed in a single roll bonded heat exchangeunit.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangementfor mounting and cooling the refrigeration equipment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a kitchen cabinet showinga water cooler unit constructed in accordance with my invention;'

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the water cooler unit;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view with parts broken away showing thearrangement for circulating condenser cooling air over the unit;

Figure 4 is a developed view showing the arrangement of the refrigerantand water passages in the roll bonded heat exchange element forming partof the water cooler unit;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure4; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure4.

Referring now to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of theinvention has been shown, reference numeral 10 generally designates akitchen cabinet having a top 12 which provides work surface and alsoserves as a support for a water cooler assembly 14. The water cooler issuspended from the bottom surface of the work top by means of thesupporting means 16 which is constructed and arranged as shown.

The water cooler assembly includes a one-piece roll bonded plate typeheat exchange unit 18 which has been bent into circular shape so as toform the outer shell of the water cooler assembly. A conventional sealedmotor-compressor unit 20 is carried by an apertured bottom plate 22secured to the lower edge of the heat exchange unit 18. The upper edgeof the circular heat exchange unit 18 is secured to the mounting means16 which serves to suspend the water cooler beneath the work surface 12.

As best shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the heat exchanger 18 consistsof a one-piece roll bonded plate which has incorporated therein acondenser passage 24, an evaporator passage 26, and a water passage 28.The plate element 18 is manufactured by the roll bonding Patented Sept.9, 1 s

water to be cooled is supplied from a city water main or any othersuitable source and enters the passage 28 through a line 30 whichconnects to the inlet 32 for the water cooling passage 28. The chilledwater leaves through the outlet 34 which connects to a water dispensingfaucet 36 provided above the table top 12.as best shown in Figures 1 and3.

The compressor discharge line 38 is connected to the condenser passage24 of the roll forged plate 18 at 40 whereby the compressed refrigerantis required to pass through the condenser portion 24 of the plate beforeentering the fixed restrictor 42 which then directs the liquidrefrigerant leaving the condenser 24 into the evaporator passage 26. Asshown in Figure 4 of the drawing the fixed restrictor 42 is in the formof a small capillary tube inserted into the inlet end 44 of theevaporator passage. The liquid refrigerant entering the evaporatorpassage 26 vaporizes therein prior to returning to It will be noted thatthe evaporator passage 26 is arranged in close proximity to the waterpassage 28 and that the condenser portion of the roll bonded plate 18 islargely separated from the evaporator portion thereof by means of slots48 which minimize the transfer of heat from the condenser portion of theplate 18 to the evaporator and water cooling portion of the plate. Itwill also be noted that the water passage includes a pair ofenlargements 50 of the waffle plate type which serve as storage chambersfor the water to be refrigerated. Suitable insulation 52 serves toenclose the evaporator and water chilling passages in the roll bondedplate 18 as best shownin Figure 1 of the drawing.

The condenser portion of the roll bonded plate 18 is fully exposed tothe air flowing through the kitchen cabinet so as to dissipate the heatremoved from the water by the refrigerating system. As best shown in Figures 1 and 3 the condenser cooling air enters the kitchen cabinetthrough an air inlet grille 60 provided adjacent the floor of thecabinet 19 andsome of this air flows around the outside of the watercooler assembly and some of it flows through air inlet passages 62provided in the member 22 so as to cool the inner surface of thecondenser portion 18 and so as to cool the motor-compressor unit 20. Therear wall of the cabinet construction is provided with an air outlet 64which communicates with an air flue 66 leading to an exhaust fan 68which exhausts the air into the outside atmosphere.

The exhaust fan 68 may be provided solely for the water cooler assemblyor it may also serve to exhaust air fro-m the entire kitchen as well asfrom the water cooling unit. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawing acanopy 70 of the type used over ranges hasbeen provided for withdrawingodors emanating from the food preparation center as well as forwithdrawing the condenser cooling air.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, as may come Within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a water cooling unit; a one-piece metal plate having formedtherein a condenser passage, an evaporator passage, and a water passage;a refrigerant compressor; means for connecting said compressor,condenser passage, and evaporator passage in series refrigerant flowrelationship; means for supplying water to be refrigerated to said waterpassage; means for dispensing water from the outlet of said waterpassage; said water passage being arranged in close relationship withsaid refrigerant passage whereby the water flowing through themotor-compressor unit through the usual suction line said water passageis cooled by the refrigerant vaporized I in said evaporator passage,said one piece plate type heat exchanger forming an outer shellsurrounding said compressor. V

2. In a water cooling unit; a one-piece metal platehaving formed thereina condenser passage, an evaporator passage, and a water passage; arefrigerant compressor; means for connecting said compressor, condenserpassage, and evaporator passage in series refrigerant flow relationship;means for supplying water to be refrigerated to said water passage;means for dispensing water from the outlet of said water passage; saidwater passage being arranged in close relationship with said refrigerantpassage whereby the water flowing through said water passage is cooledby the refrigerant vaporized in said evaporator passage; insulatingmeans surrounding said evaporator and water passages, and means forcirculating air in thermal exchange relationship with said condenserpassage.

3. In a water cooling unit; a circular outer housing element comprisinga one-piece plate type heat exchanger having formed therein a condenserpassage, an evaporator passage, and a water passage; a refrigerantcompressor; means for connecting said compressor, condenser passage, andevaporator passage in series refrigerant flow relationship; means forsupplying water to be refrigerated to said water passage; means fordispensing water from the outlet of said water passage; said waterpassage being arranged in close relationship with said refrigerantpassage whereby the water flowing through said water passage is cooledby the refrigerant vaporized in said evaporator passage; insulatingmeans surrounding said evaporator and water passages, and means forcirculating air in thermal exchange relationship with said condenserpassage.

4. In combination, a one-piece plate type heat exchanger having formedtherein a condenser passage, an evaporator passage, and a water passage;a refrigerant compressor; means for connecting said compressor,condenser passage, and evaporator passage in series refrigerant flowrelationship; means for supplying water to be refrigerated to said waterpassage; means for dispensing waterfrom the outlet of said waterpassage; said water passage being arranged in close relationship withsaid refrigerant passage whereby the water flowing through said waterpassage is cooled by the refrigerant vaporized in said evaporatorpassage; a kitchen cabinet; means for supporting said plate type heatexchanger and said compressor within said cabinet; air inlet means forintroducing condenser cooling air into one portion of said cabinet; andmeans for forcefully exhausting air from another portion of saidcabinet; said heat exchanger being arranged in the path of said air.

5. In combination; a one-piece plate type heat exchanger having formedtherein a condenser passage, an evaporator passage, and a water passage;a refrigerant compressor; means for connecting said compressor,condenser passage, and evaporator passage in series refrigerant flowrelationship, means for supplying water to be refrigerated to said waterpassage; means for dispensing water. from the outlet of said waterpassage; said water passage being arranged in close relationship withsaid refrigerant passage whereby the water flowing through said waterpassage is cooled by the refrigerant vaporized in said evaporatorpassage; means forming an enclosure having therein a cabinet; means forsupporting said plate type'heat exchanger and said compressor withinsaid cabinet; means for introducing condenser cooling air into oneportion of said cabinet; means for forcefully exhausting air fromanother portion of said cabinet; said last named means comprising anexhaust fan arranged to exhaust air from said enclosure and from saidcabinet into the outside atmosphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,021,995 Heath Nov. 26, 1935 2,231,162 Hintze Feb. 11, 1941 2,304,359Hommel Dec. 8, 1942 2,387,465 Peltier Oct. 23, 1945 2,415,243 HickmanFeb. 4, 1947 2,553,693 Wehr May 22, 1951

